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Andrew Vickers
Andrew Vickers
United Kingdom
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4 SUPPORTERS
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Escape Profile
Escape Profile

Two former colleages launch impassioned design studio

Andrew Vickers and Paul Roughan escaped a large 'Design Week Top 50' agency to form a youthful yet experienced design studio of their own, http://www.avenuelondon.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Avenue Design. Knowledge gained through working with some of Europe's largest companies gives Avenue the platform to showcase their passion for design and give their new clients the fervency and attention to detail they deserve. No middle men.

ESCAPED FROM

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ESCAPED TO

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ESCAPE ROUTE

  • Start a business

How I can help Esc members

I'd like to think that Avenue is an excellent choice of design agency for new businesses. Having done it ourselves, we understand the passion and vision it takes.

We can articulate your business through design. A new business deserves a solid brand. Branding is a very powerful business tool. In the modern world, the reputation of a business is essential to its success. Branding is the public representation of a business' values and what it offers to its customers. A strong, credible brand uses its ‘personality’ to speak to its audience with a unique proposition that stands out from the crowd in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Avenue can handle a brand’s entire visual presentation. From the foundations of corporate identity and brand guidelines, through to implementation across a myriad of literature - both printed and online.

Currently...

Over the last few months Paul and I have been in full start-up mode. We've been researching, writing a business plan, and designing our new website. We've been deciding what it is that Avenue stands for and discussing our ambitions for the future.

Having picked up some new clients along the way, our day-to-day lives have been hectic. A schedule packed with thoughtful, effective design and publicity for our new venture has meant life is anything but dull - a world away from our previous comfortable employment.

Avenue is a truly multi-disciplinary studio. We create branding, corporate identity, editorial, brochures, packaging, typography, website design and digital media.

Before I escaped...

Personally, I have dreamt of starting my own business, and a design agency in particular, since university.

I knew that I needed to get a few years experience under my belt first, so I worked for a small agency in my home town, Birmingham. Then I made the move to London and joined a much larger company.

Along the way I observed many positive aspects of each of these companies, but also saw a lot of things I believed could have been done better.

My moment of truth...

In a frustrated moment one afternoon I 'snapped' and decided to resign. Although, in truth, it is something I'd contemplated for some time.

It seemed Paul had been suffering the same frustration, and on finding out that he too had resigned, we made the decision to start something together. Let's be Avenue...

Planning for it...

We have a business plan in place which is a great help and a measure of our success. So far we have surpassed our own expectations.

Avenue is funded, in part, through savings. We've been lucky enough to gain design work straight away from existing contacts which has helped us tremendously financially. We're also in the process of seeking a loan from the Princes Trust as well as the business advice that goes with it.

The worst and best bits...

The only negative I can think of is the worry. Without the safety net provided by employers, and the realisation that it is down to you and your initiative alone, is quite daunting. But this is immensely exhilarating at the same time.

On the positive side, it has to be the learning curve. Learning something new and significant every day is a real boost, and squashes any worries you may have about whether you're doing the right thing.

Best advice...

Get it right now (in the beginning). Don't rush the setting up. Have a solid idea of who or what it is you want to be, and plan accordingly.

I wish I'd known more about the technical and administrative side of business, but I think its more important to have passion and drive. You can learn those things.

Useful resources and information...